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January 29, 2014

Warm Up With: Mushroom Marsala Soup

With "soup weather" sweeping the country, I figured it was the perfect time to share my favorite winter warm-up -- A hearty meatless soup featuring Porcini and Crimini mushrooms, fresh thyme and Marsala wine.

If you have a mandoline, I recommend slicing the criminis and shallots on the 1/8" setting.

Stick (immersion) blender

Step 1: In a medium saucepan, bring chicken stock to a boil. Add dried porcinis and simmer for 10 minutes.

Step 2: In a large stockpot, heat the olive oil. Add crimini mushrooms and cook over medium-high heat until tender and slightly browned (approx. 12-15 minutes). All of the liquid will have evaporated from the pot at this point.

Step 3: Add the shallots, garlic, bay leaf and time. Season with salt (I used 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher) and pepper. Continue to cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until shallots have softened and a fond begins to form on the bottom of the pan.

Step 4: Add Marsala, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan. Cook until reduced by half.

Step 5: Remove the porcini mushrooms from the stock; chop, then add to the stock pot. Pour the porcini stock into the pot as well. Add 2 cups boiling water, then simmer for 10 minutes. Slowly stir in the half and half, then simmer for an additional 5 minutes.

Step 6: If you have an immersion blender, give a few pulses inside the stock pot to break down about a 1/3 of the mushrooms. If using a conventional blender, remove 1 1/2 cups of the soup, puree, then return to the pot. Stir in the parsley. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary. Ladle into bowls, drizzle with lemon olive oil and garnish with just a touch more of chopped parsley. Serve with a crusty french bread, toasted and drizzled with olive oil.

This soup is even more amazing the second day once the flavors have had a chance to marry over night.